[12974] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Public Access Computer Systems
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Reference Librarian)
Mon Jun 21 20:08:49 1999
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 1999 18:34:20 -0600
From: Reference Librarian <ref@esper.com>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
Message-Id: <376E5853.9836E31A@esper.com>
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----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Perhaps it is time for PACS-L to change its name. This list has become,
over time, a place to dump announcements and political views on topics
not even tangentially related to the management of computer systems that
a library's "public" may access. Is this because there are no more PACS
problems in library land, and everyone knows what they're doing and
doesn't have to ask for help? Are PACS no longer interesting to discuss?
Following good netiquette, those who subscribe and lurk awhile hoping to
eventually post discussion about PACS may be discouraged once they
observe the true nature of the list. Those people who would like to read
such a list may get tired of deleting the other 95% of the traffic,
looking for something germane to PACS. Once a critical mass of off-topic
(yet interesting) posts are admitted to the list, this becomes a
feedback loop and the list becomes a dumping ground without a
discernible focus.
Because this process has been going on for years and PACS-L has gained
its reputation as a place to read about anything and everything
Information Age-y, perhaps a name change would not be acceptable to
PACS-L members. My alternative proposal, therefore, is that the list
could become two: PACS-L and PACS-L-discuss. The PACS-L-discuss list
should be moderated not just to keep out administrative command postings
and announcements of all sorts, but also to keep discussion on-topic
instead of allowing a fascinating exchange about scholarly publishing
(much of which I've forwarded on to my favorite scientist).
I've lurked on this list for a very long time, on some years and off
some years, but I'm becoming busy and cross, and old enough to have the
courage of my curmudgeonliness. Blame me for not posting my own
questions and experiences dealing with PACS, but don't blame me for
creating an environment that makes such a posting seem oddly out of
place.
--Melissa J. Brenneman, librarian of public access computers in the
Lawson McGhee Library
Knoxville, TN
ref@esper.com
